OSCM 465: Government Contracting and Procurements Master Syllabus
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Textbook
Government Contracts in Plain English (ISBN 978-1734198157)
Digital books are acceptable.
Note: The text is required reading but it is not a substitute or replacement for classroom instruction.
Website
Canvas
Course Description
This course (OSCM 465 DL1), provides a review of the $600B+ Business to Government (B2G) Government Contracting Industry. In Virginia it is estimated that over $80B of the state economy is based in government contracting, with the majority centralized in Northern Virginia. The course will begin with an introduction to Procurement and Supply Chain fundamentals followed by how they are executed in practice by government organizations, with a focus on US Federal Government contracting policies, processes and procedures. Designed to establish base knowledge for students potentially pursuing careers in government organizations or businesses that serve government clients. Topics will include Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Federal Budgeting, Market Analysis, Category Management, Small Business Utilization, National Security implications, Innovation and Research Funding.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the components of government contracting and how they are influence the B2G business model.
- Understand the government procurement process and how businesses effectively acquire government contracts.
- To help students become more effective managers and entrepreneurs in today’s competitive, global environment.
Requirements
You may earn up to 100% throughout the course. A resume and picture is due 9/1 (part of in-class exercises). Details will be posted on Canvas. Grades in this course will be computed as follows (note there is no rounding up):
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Group Project | 30% |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Government Org Overview | 10% |
| Class Assignments (4 Total / 2.5% per)) | 10% |
| In-Class Exercises/Class Participation | 10% |
Grading Scale
| A | 92.0 - 100 |
| A- | 90.0 -91.99 |
| B+ | 88.0 - 89.99 |
| B | 82.0 - 87.99 |
| B- | 80.0 - 81.99 |
| C+ | 78.0 - 79.00 |
| C | 72.0 - 77.99 |
| F | Others |
Class Participation and Attendance
Every student is expected to prepare for and attend each class and to constructively participate in class discussions. Let the instructor know in advance, should you have to plan on missing a class.
Class Assignments
During the semester, that will be four quantitative assignments based on lecture (outlined in schedule below). Combined, they account for 10% of the overall class grade. Details for the assignment will be discussed in the lecture the week before they are due. Submissions up to one week late will receive a 50% penalty, submissions more than one week late will receive no credit.
Government Organization Overview
Each week, individual students will present a 10-minute presentation about a government organization to the rest of the class. Each presentation should be in MS PowerPoint (not linked to google slides), have links to reference material and be posted on the BB “GOV ORG OVERVIEW” Discussion Forum a minimum of 24 hours prior to class (ie. NLT than Tuesday at 7:20PM). The presentation should provide a general but researched overview of a selected government agency/department and include the following: 1) what is the mission, purpose and history of this government organization, 2) what is the budget for this government organization and what are some of the main categories of purchases, and 3) what are 2-3 knowledge items a potential vendor for this organization should know (major incumbents, budget swings, recent news, preferred purchase methods/vehicles, unique characteristics, small business participation, etc.). Emphasis in grading will be placed on the demonstration of preparation and research, and completeness of presentation within the outlined criteria, not on your individual presentation skills.
In Class Quizzes
Two (2) quizzes will be administered in class. These will be a combination of T/F, Multiple Choice and Short Response. Students will need to bring a scantron to class. There are no scheduled make-ups for Quizzes, any planned absence must be communicated well ahead of class. Quizzes will be cumulative and relevant study material will be discussed in class the week prior to the scheduled quiz.
Examinations
There will be an in-class midterm exam approximately halfway through the course. The exam will cover classes 1-7 and will consist of multiple choice, true-false, short answer and free response questions. The midterm is closed book and note. Material presented in class, videos, slides, news updates, articles, text, and student presentations are testable. Each student is expected to bring his/her own Scantron sheet, #2 pencils for the exam. To prepare for the exam, students should read assigned textbook chapters, review slides and read articles on a weekly basis.
Group Project
Over the course of the semester groups of three (3) students will complete a project for a specific government contracting opportunity they select. During the final class, students will present a 10minute overview of the interview including:
- Opportunity Description, selection rationale, customer overview, importance of selected opportunity, history of the opportunity, estimated size / effort of opportunity
- Capture / Business Development Strategy to include:
- Client Interaction, Teaming Partners, Small Business Strategy, Value Proposition / Differentiation, Likely government acquisition method. Specific client or opportunity considerations
To assist with the development of project material, groups will have three (3) check points during the semester as outlined in the schedule below. Complete and timely submission for these check points will contribute to the overall grade of the project, which counts for thirty (30%) of the overall semester grade. More details on the project will be given during the semester as relevant material is covered in lecture.
Course Schedule (subject to change)
| Class | Topic | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class Introduction, Syllabus Review, Government Contracting Overview | |
| 2 | Procurement & Purchasing Fundamentals | Text CH 1 |
| 3 | How the Government Purchases / FAR | SBA GovCon 101 (Part 2) Video, Text Ch 10 & 11 |
| 4 | Government Purchase Methods / FBO | Text CH: 13 & 14 |
| 5 | Government Spend Data | RSM & GOVOLOGY Youtube Videos |
| 6 | Proposal Structure, Contracting Terms | FAR Part 6 Video, Text CH 4 & 17 |
| 7 | Govt. Specific Considerations (DCAA, DFARS, FCL, etc.) & Roles | SBIR Finance Tutorial, CH 31 |
| 8 | Midterm | |
| 9 | Small Businesses in GovCon (Set-asides, ASMPP, Affiliation) | SBA GovCon 101 (Part 1) Video, Text CH 7 & 8 |
| 10, 11 | Selling to the Government, Shipley Method | Shipley Method Handout, CH 21 & 22 |
| 11 | Proposal Response Process / MISC Topics (SCA / SCRM) | CH 23, 24 & 25 |
| 12, 13 | GovCon EcoSystem Overview / MISC TOPICS (HIPAA, FEDRamp, Ethics) | FEDRamp (Youtube) |
| Thanksgiving Week | ||
| 14 | Project Presentations | |
| 15 | Final Exam |
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